Who Is Steven Hawley? Age, Biography and Wiki
Steven Hawley, born on December 12, 1951, is a renowned American astronaut and physicist. As of 2025, he is 73 years old. A graduate of the University of Kansas with a B.S. in astronomy, Hawley has made significant contributions to space exploration, participating in five Space Shuttle missions and gaining fame for his work in the field of astronomy and particle physics. Since his NASA career, he has continued to impact the scientific community through teaching and research roles.
| Occupation | Astronaut |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 12, 1951 |
| Age | 73 Years |
| Birth Place | Ottawa, Kansas, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Steven Hawley's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Steven Hawley stands tall at 6 feet (183 cm) and maintains a healthy weight of approximately 180 pounds (82 kg). Although specific body measurements are not publicly disclosed, his athletic build reflects his active lifestyle and dedication to physical fitness, essential for anyone who has spent time in the rigorous environment of space.
STS-82 Discovery (February 11–21, 1997), the second Hubble Space Telescope (HST) maintenance mission, was launched at night and returned to a night landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
During the flight, Hawley's primary role was to operate the Shuttle's 50-foot robot arm to retrieve and redeploy the HST following completion of upgrades and repairs. Hawley also operated the robot arm during five spacewalks in which two teams installed two new spectrometers and eight replacement instruments.
They also replaced insulation patches over three compartments containing key data-processing, electronics and scientific-instrument telemetry packages. HST was then redeployed and boosted to a higher orbit. The flight was completed in 149 orbits covering 3.8 million miles in 9 days, 23 hours, 37 minutes.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Steven Hawley remains private about his personal life, especially concerning romantic relationships. While there have been previous speculations about his dating history, he has not publicly confirmed any significant relationships or a boyfriend. Hawley is known to prioritize his family, including his parents and siblings, who have been supportive of his remarkable career.
Hawley is a member of the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sigma Pi Sigma, and Phi Beta Kappa. Now retired, he resides in Lawrence, Kansas, where his parents also live.
Net Worth and Salary
In 2025, Steven Hawley's estimated net worth is around $5 million. His earnings primarily stem from his extensive career as an astronaut, educator, and speaker, alongside various investments in scientific research ventures. This financial success reflects not only his significant achievements at NASA but also his contributions to academia and public speaking engagements across the country.
Career, Business and Investments
Steven Hawley’s illustrious career began at NASA, where he served as a mission specialist. His work in space has included extensive research in astronomy, astrophysics, and satellite technology. Since leaving NASA, he has also ventured into academia, continuing to educate future generations as a professor at the University of Kansas. In addition, Hawley has invested in various projects related to space technology and education, aiming to inspire interest in science and engineering fields.
Hawley graduated from Salina High School Central, Salina, Kansas, in 1969; he regards Salina as his home town. Hawley attended the University of Kansas, graduating with highest distinction in 1973 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Physics and in Astronomy. He spent three summers employed as a research assistant: 1972 at the U.S.
Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., and 1973 and 1974 at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. He attended graduate school at Lick Observatory, University of California, Santa Cruz, principal advisor was William L. Burke graduating in 1977 with a Doctorate in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Social Network
In 2025, Steven Hawley maintains a modest presence on social media. While he is not overly active on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, he occasionally shares insights from his experiences and thoughts on space exploration, engaging with the scientific community and followers interested in his adventures. His professional website serves as a hub for updates on his projects and lectures.
Prior to his selection by NASA in 1978, Hawley was a post-doctoral research associate at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in La Serena, Chile. His research involved spectrophotometry of gaseous nebulae and emission-line galaxies, with particular emphasis on chemical abundance determinations for these objects. The results of his research have been published in major astronomical journals.
Education
Hawley’s educational background laid the foundation for his successful career. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in astronomy from the University of Kansas, followed by a Ph.D. in astrophysics. His academic pursuits were pivotal in shaping his future endeavors, both in space missions and academia, allowing him to become a prominent figure in the scientific community.
Steven Alan Hawley (born December 12, 1951) is a retired astronomer and NASA astronaut who flew on five U.S. Space Shuttle flights. Hawley is Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Kansas.
